CERRITOS, California — A man armed with a knife was shot and killed inside a busy restaurant at a Cerritos shopping center on Sunday afternoon after authorities say he charged toward an armed customer who repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon.
The shooting occurred at Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que on South Street, where investigators say customers and employees were forced to flee in panic as the man ran through the restaurant carrying a knife. The customer who fired the fatal shot remained at the scene and is fully cooperating with investigators, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Armed Customer Opened Fire After Confrontation
Deputies responded to the restaurant around 2:12 p.m. after receiving reports of a man armed with a knife. When they arrived, they found the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound and multiple lacerations. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the man entered the restaurant and ran through the kitchen and service areas, frightening employees and diners. Deputies said a customer who was lawfully carrying a concealed firearm confronted the suspect and repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife.
Authorities said the suspect instead charged toward the armed customer, who then fired his weapon in self-defense.
Witnesses Describe Chaotic Scene
An employee who witnessed the incident described the terrifying moments inside the restaurant.
“I just saw a guy run in the restaurant with his throat slit, and he had a knife,” the employee said. “He kept walking toward him like Michael Myers. He shot him.”
A sheriff’s department source said an off-duty law enforcement officer was also inside the restaurant and witnessed the shooting but did not fire a weapon.
Investigation Suggests Violence Began Earlier
Investigators believe the incident started before the suspect entered the restaurant.
According to a sheriff’s department source, the man had allegedly been driving a stolen pickup truck before abandoning it nearby. Authorities also believe he stabbed himself at a Starbucks before running toward the restaurant.
Witness Magaly Zacarias said she saw the suspect driving recklessly moments before the incident.
“He just left the car there, ran off to Lucille’s, and it seemed like he had a knife in his hand. He was also wounded,” Zacarias said.
She added that there appeared to be blood throughout the abandoned vehicle.
Community Left Shocked
The restaurant, located inside a busy shopping plaza near the 605 Freeway, remained surrounded by sheriff’s deputies and homicide investigators for several hours as witnesses were interviewed.
Residents and nearby workers said they were stunned by the violence in an area they consider safe.
“We were really anxious because this plaza is safe, so it was shocking,” Zacarias said.
Another Cerritos resident, Javier Reyes, said he hopes security measures are strengthened following the incident.
“Hopefully there’s more security because this is kind of unacceptable,” he said.
Investigators have not released the identity of the deceased or a possible motive for the incident. Authorities also said the customer who fired the weapon has remained fully cooperative throughout the investigation.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Should more security measures be added at busy shopping centers and restaurants? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
